Weaving apparatus method of using and resulting toy

ABSTRACT

A weaving apparatus for constructing a woven toy. The weaving apparatus comprises a pair of longitudinally extended dowel members inserted into openings formed in a pair of templates. Yarn is wrapped around both dowels. A resilient wire is longitudinally passed between the dowel members and around the wrapped yarn. Opposing ends of the resilient wire are fastened together to form a closed contour. Securing yarn is helically looped around the resilient wire and each yarn strand. The securing yarn is fastened together on opposing ends thereof in order to secure the resilient wire to each yarn strand. The wrapped yarn is cut from the dowels and the resilient wire squeezed together to form one section of the toy.

[ Apr. 29, 1975 1 1 WEAVING APPARATUS METHOD OF USING AND RESULTING TOY[76] inventor: Robert W. Lamb, 147 Ardmore Ave, Haddonfleld, NJ. 08033[22] Filed: Jan. 22, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 325,406

2.311575 2/1943 Robinsonm,

2.373.393 4/1945 Hall 1 v 1 i 1 28/15 2.454.493 11/1948 Upstill 66/1 A2,540.383 2/1951 Tillert et a1. v 66/1 A 2,580,088 12/1951 Gocrdelcr28/15 2.655017 10/1953 Scott 66/1 A Primary Examiner-James Kee ChiAttorney. Agent. or F1'rmPaul Maleson; Morton .1,

Rosenberg [57] ABSTRACT A weaving apparatus for constructing a woventoy. The weaving apparatus comprises a pair of longitudi nally extendeddowel members inserted into openings formed in a pair of templates. Yarnis wrapped around both dowels. A resilient wire is longitudinally passedbetween the dowel members and around the wrapped yarn. Opposing ends ofthe resilient wire are fastened together to form a closed contour.Securing yarn is he lically looped around the resilient wire and eachyarn strand. The securing yarn is fastened together on opposing endsthereof in order to secure the resilient wire to each yarn strand. Thewrapped yarn is cut from the dowels and the resilient wire squeezedtogether to form one section of the toy.

14 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures WEAVING APPARATUS METHOD OF USING ANDRESULTING TOY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of Art This inventionpertains to the field of toy weaving devices and methods of using. Inparticular this invention relates to the field of woven yarn toysproduced from weaving devices. More in particular, this inventionpertains to methods of producing woven yarn toys from weaving devices.

2. Prior Art Weaving devices are known in the art. However, some ofthese weaving devices are adapted to the making of rugs or other largearticles and do not permit removability of yarn holding members. Searchdevices are not provided in kit form for use by the hobbyist. Otherdevices use rod or dowel members for structural spacers but do notutilize them as an aid in wrapping as well as cutting the yarn intotufted segments.

Other devices for weaving yarn provide various methods of interlacingyarn strands each to the other, however, such devices do not provideyarn constrained to resilient wire through securing yarn loops aroundboth the wire and yarn passing around the dowel members. Other devicesinterlace yarn strands in orthogonal directions in order to provide aunitary woven article, but such are complicated in use and do not yieldthe tufted yarn toy of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of this invention is to provide atufted yarn toy animal dependent on the skill of the user.

Another object of this invention is to provide a weaving device whichcan be constructed by the user in making a tufted yarn toy animal.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a method ofconstructing a tufted yarn toy animal from a weaving device which may beobtained in kit form for use as a hobby craft.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide a user withenjoyment over a period of time where the skill of the user is tested inthe making ofa tufted yam toy.

A weaving apparatus for constructing a woven toy which includes a pairof longitudinally extended dowel members. A pair of templates have aplurality of openings for insertion of the dowel members. Each of thedowel members are inserted into the openings on opposing ends of thedowel members. The dowel members are positionally located substantiallyparallel each to the other after insertion into the openings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of thetoy animal;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the weaving apparatus showing yarnwrapped around dowel members;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, partially in cross-section of theresilient wire passing around the yarn wrapped around the dowel members;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of securing yarn being helically wound aboutthe resilient wire and yarn;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the dowel members being cut in alongitudinal direction to release the yarn from the restraining dowels;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the securing yarn, resilient wireand yarn mounted on the dowels taken along the section line 6-6 of FIG.4;

FIG. 7 is a cutaway view of a portion of the toy animal showing thejoining of the body section to the legs; and,

FIG. 8 is an end view of the yarn after being cut and pulled together bythe securing yarn.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIGS. I and 2there is shown weaving apparatus 10 adapted to construct woven toy 12through a method technique to be hereinafter described. Apparatus 10 maybe provided in kit form for use by an operator or as an assembledpackage. In general, apparatus 10 comprises opposing templates I4, 16relatively displaced each from the other by dowel members 18, 20 toprovide a unitary structure for use in constructing woven toy 12. Use ofweaving apparatus 10 provides an operator with enjoyment over a periodof time while resulting in toy I2 whose general appearance takes theform of a dog. The skill and imagination of the operator is a directfunction of the final appearance and form of woven toy l2.

Weaving apparatus 10 includes extended dowel members 18, 20 which passin longitudinal direction 22 when securely mounted within throughopenings 26 of template members 14, 16. Dowels 18, 20 are parallelydisplaced each from the other throughout their longitudinal extensionwhen they are mounted in respective openings 26 oftemplates l4, l6.Dowels 18, 20 may be formed of plastic, metal or other materialpermitting rigidity of apparatus 10 when constructed. The particularmaterial forming dowels 18, 20 is not critical to the inventive conceptwith the exception that the chosen material be able to maintain thenecessary rigidity under the construction and operating stresses.

In cross-sectional contour, dowels 18, 20 may be circular in nature asshown in FIGS. 3 and 4. However, the particular cross-sectional contouris not important to the inventive concept with the exception that thedowel contours must be similar geometrically to openings 26 forinsertion purposes. Dimensionally, dowels 18, 20 may have a length ofapproximately I foot in longitudirial direction 22 with an overallcross-sectional diameter approximating five-eighths of an inch. Bothdowels 18, 20 have substantially the same length and crosssectionaldiameters.

Longitudinally displaced templates 14, 16 include a plurality ofopenings 26 for insertion of opposing ends of each dowel member 18, 20.Openings 26 may either be through openings or recesses within each oftemplates 14, 16 sufficient to provide releaseable securement of dowels18, 20 to templates 14, 16. Three openings 26 are formed withintemplates 14, 16 in order to provide varying displacement distancesbetween dowel members 18, 20 in transverse direction 24. As is seen,openings 26 are positionally located in a line substantially transversethe longitudinal extension of members 18, 20. Openings 26 have across-sectional contour substantially the same as that of dowel members18, 20. Further, the dimensions of openings 26 are substantially thesame but slightly greater than those of dowels 18, 20 in order to permita force fit of dowel member opposing ends within openings 26. Whendowels 18, 20 are mounted within templates 14, 16 such are positionallylocated in a plane substantially normal to the longitudinal extension ofdowel members 18, 20 as shown in FIG. 2.

In construction, templates 14, 16 may be formed of plastic, metal orother material compatible with the insertion of dowels 18, 20 withinopenings 26. Generally, each of templates 14, 16 may be rectangular ingeometrical contour and dimensionally have side lengths approximating 5by 2 inches. However, specific geometrical contour and dimensionallengths are not important to the inventive concept as is hereindescribed.

In the method of making woven toy I2, weaving apparatus is initiallyconstructed by inserting opposing ends of dowel members 18, intorespective openings 26 formed within templates 14, 16. Insertion ofdowels 18, 20 is made into openings 26 in a manner such that dowels 18,20 pass between templates 14, 16 in prede' termined paralleldisplacement each from the other.

Once apparatus 10 is constructed into a unitary device, yarn 28 is woundaround both dowel members 18, 20 in a helical manner substantially intransverse direc tion 24 as shown. This forms a plurality of yarn loopsextending over a predetermined distance in longitudinal direction 22.Each yarn loop includes an upper 30 and lower 32 pair of transverselypassing yarn strands passing over an upper surface and lower surface respectively of dowel members 18, 20. Opposing ends of yarn 28 are tied,forming the plurality of yarn loops wound about dowels 18, 20 into aclosed contour winding. In general, yarn 28 is tightened about dowels18, 20 to remove any slack throughout the transverse distance throughwhich dowels 18, 20 are displaced.

Having now wound yarn 28 about dowels 18, 20 in the manner described,the operator then constrains or secures each of upper 30 and lower 32yarn strands to a next consecutively longitudinally positioned yarnstrand. This step includes passing wire 34 in longitudinal direction 22between dowels 18, 20 in a predetermined manner such that wire 34 passesover upper yarn strands 30 and under lower yarn strands 32 as is shownin FIGS. 3 and 6. Wire 34 is then brought back to the initial yarn loop,and the opposing ends are entwined to form securement mechanism 36. Wire34 tied around all of the yarn loops then forms a closed contourextended in longitudinal direction 22 above and below the transverselydirected yarn loops.

Wire 34 is then weaved to each of upper 30 and lower 32 yarn strands byhelically passing securing yarn 38 around wire 34 and each upper andlower yarn strand 30, 32 as is shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. Wire 34 passessubstantially normal to each of yarn strands 30, 32 thereby creating anintersecting point between each yarn strand and wire 34. Securing yarn38 is then looped around each yarn strand 30, 32 and wire 34 at theintersection line between wire 34 and the adjacent strand 30, 32 as isshown in FIG. 4. As is seen, securing yarn 38 is looped above upper yarnstrand 30 then passed under corresponding lower yarn strand 32. Yarn 38is then above and below strands 30, 32 respectively in longitudinaldirection 24. Thus, securing yarn 38 is woven through strands 30 and 32.Securing yarn 38 may be looped around each consecutive strand and wire34 either by hand or attaching the securing yarn 38 to a needle device.Opposing ends of securing yarn 38 are then pulled together after allyarn strands 30, 32 are woven to each other and wire 34. The upper wiresection is thus squeezed or compressed to the lower section of wire 34to form one section of woven toy 12.

As shown in FIG. 5, the yarn loops are then severed from each of dowelmembers 18, 20. This step includes the step of cutting the yarn loopsalong each of dowel members 18, 20 in longitudinal direction 22. Thecutting step is accomplished through use of cutting implement 40 such asa knife, razor blade or some like device.

In general, dowels 18, 20 are displaced each from the other a maximumamount to form main body section 42. This would be accomplished byinserting dowel members 18, 20 into the most transversely displacedopenings 26 of templates l4, l6. Dowels 18, 20 are then mounted intotransversely displaced consecutive openings 26 in order to form legsections 44 of toy 12. Leg sections 44 are mounted to main body 42 atopposing ends of body 42 to form toy 12 as shown in FIG. 1. Wires 34 ofsections 42 and 44 may be attached through tieing loop wire 46 shown inFIG. 7, intertwining or some like technique not important to theinventive concept.

In the manner herein described, there is constructed yarn woven toy 12constituting an article of manufac ture. Toy 12 includes at least threesections of yarn strands providing one main body section 42 and two legsections 44. Each set of yarn strands 30, 32 are constrained each to theother by wire 34 woven throughout each section 42 and 44. Two of theyarn sections 44 are bent into an inverted U-shape section for mountingto main body section 42.

Each yarn strand section 44 is tied at substantially the midpoint ofeach to first or main body section 42 on opposing ends thereof. Sections44 may be tied, intertwined, stapled or otherwise attached to section 42in order to form toy 12. As is seen in FIG. 1, first section 42 servesas an animal body whereas the other two sections 44 serve as toy legmembers.

What has been herein described is a new and useful apparatus 10 andmethod of using same to produce woven toy 12. The type of toy 12resulting from use of apparatus 10 is a direct function of the skill anoperator exhibits. The scope of this invention is to be determined bythe appended claims and not limited to the foregoing description anddrawings which are illustrative.

What is claimed is:

l. A weaving apparatus for constructing a woven toy from yarn,comprising:

a. a pair of longitudinally extended dowel members extending in astraight line manner between opposing ends of each of said dowelmembers, said yarn being wound around said dowel members in a helicaltransverse direction to provide a plurality of yarn loops;

b. a pair of templates having a plurality of openings for insertion ofsaid dowel members, each of said dowel members being inserted into saidopenings on opposing ends of said dowel members, said dowel membersbeing positionally located substantially parallel each to the otherafter insertion into said openings, each of said dowels having a contourdimension substantially equal to said openings in each of said templatesfor providing a force of said opposing ends of each of said dowels intosaid openings of said templates c. wire means extending around all ofsaid yarn loops in a closed contour, said wire means being secured to anupper strand and a lower strand of each of said yarn loops.

2. The weaving apparatus as recited in claim 1 where yarn iscontinuously looped around both of said dowel members in a directionsubstantially transverse said longitudinal extension to form a closedcontour yarn winding about said dowel members after said dowel membersare inserted into said openings within said templates.

3. The weaving apparatus as recited in claim 2 including means forreleasably constraining one of said loops of said yarn to a nextconsecutive yarn loop, said releasable constraining means being extendedin said longitudinal direction in an undulating fashion for passingalternatively above and below each of said yarn loops and said wiremeans in a consecutive manner.

4. The weaving apparatus as recited in claim 1 where said templates arepositionally located in a plane substantially normal said longitudinalextension of said dowel members after said dowel members have beeninserted into said openings of said dowel members.

5. The weaving apparatus as recited in claim 1 where said templates areformed of plastic for providing a substantially resilient pair ofmembers when said dowel members are force fit into said openings, saiddowel members being constructed of a material substantially harder thanthat of said templates.

6. The weaving apparatus as recited in claim 5 where each of said dowelsis constructed of aluminum having a cross-sectional circular contour ofsufficient diameter to provide structural rigidity, said dowels forinsertion into each of said template openings.

7. The weaving apparatus as recited in claim 1 where each of said dowelmembers is releasably secured to each of said templates.

8. A method for making a yarn woven toy, including the steps of:

a. force fitting opposing ends of a pair of longitudinally extendeddowel members into a pair of templates having a plurality of openingsdimensionally sized to receive said dowel member opposing ends in forcefit contact;

b. winding yarn around both of said dowel members in a helical mannerforming a plurality of yarn loops in said longitudinal direction, eachof said loops having an upper and lower pair of transversely directedyarn strands;

c. passing a flexible wire around all of said yarn loops between saiddowel members, said flexible wire forming a closed contour;

d. securing said flexible wire to an upper strand and a lower strand ofeach of said yarn loops;

e. severing said yarn loops from each of said dowel members to form onesection of said woven toy.

9. The method for making a yarn woven toy as recited in claim 8 wherethe step of passing said resilient wire is followed by the step oftieing said wire around all of said yarn loops.

10. The method of making a yarn woven toy as recited in claim 9 wherethe step of tieing said wire is followed by the step of weaving saidwire to each of said yarn strands.

11. The method of making a yarn woven toy as recited in claim 10 wherethe step of weaving said wire includes the step of helically passing alength of yarn around said wire and each of said yarn strands formingsaid yarn loops.

12. The method of making a yarn woven toy as recited in claim 11 wherethe step of tieing includes the step of pulling said opposing ends ofsaid length of yarn tightly thereby forcing said upper and lower yarnstrands together.

13. The method for making a yarn woven toy as recited in claim 8 wherethe step of severing said yarn loops includes the step of cutting saidloops along each of said dowels.

14. The method for making a yarn woven toy as recited in claim 13 wherethe step of cutting is followed by the step of compressing said wirewoven through said upper yarn strands to said wire woven through saidlower yarn strands to form one section of said woven toy.

1. A weaving apparatus for constructing a woven toy from yarn,comprising: a. a pair of longitudinally extended dowel members extendingin a straight line manner between opposing ends of each of said dowelmembers, said yarn being wound around said dowel members in a helicaltransverse direction to provide a plurality of yarn loops; b. a pair oftemplates having a plurality of openings for insertion of said dowelmembers, each of said dowel members being inserted into said openings onopposing ends of said dowel members, said dowel members beingpositionally located substantially parallel each to the other afterinsertion into said openings, each of said dowels having a contourdimension substantially equal to said openings in each of said templatesfor providing a force of said opposing ends of each of said dowels intosaid openings of said templates c. wire means extending around all ofsaid yarn loops in a closed contour, said wire means being secured to anupper strand and a lower strand of each of said yarn loops.
 2. Theweaving apparatus as recited in claim 1 where yarn is continuouslylooped around both of said dowel members in a direction substantiallytransverse said longitudinal extension to form a closed contour yarnwinding about said dowel members after said dowel members are insertedinto said openings within said templates.
 3. The weaving apparatus asrecited in claim 2 including means for releasably constraining one ofsaid loops of said yarn to a next consecutive yarn loop, said releasableconstraining means being extended in said longitudinal direction in anundulating fashion for passing alternatively above and below each ofsaid yarn loops and said wire means in a consecutive manner.
 4. Theweaving apparatus as recited in claim 1 where said templates arepositionally located in a plane substantially normal said longitudinalextension of said dowel members after said dowel members have beeninserted into said openings of said dowel members.
 5. The weavingapparatus as recited in claim 1 where said templates are formed ofplastic for providing a substantially resilient pair of members whensaid dowel members are force fit into said openings, said dowel membersbeing constructed of a material substantially harder than that of saidtemplates.
 6. The weaving apparatus as recited in claim 5 where each ofsaid dowels is constructed of aluminum having a cross-sectional circularcontour of sufficient diameter to provide structural rigidity, saiddowels for insertion into each of said template openings.
 7. The weavingapparatus as recited in claim 1 where each of said dowel members isreleasably secured to each of said templates.
 8. A method for making ayarn woven toy, including the steps of: a. force fitting opposing endsof a pair of longitudinally extended dowel members into a pair oftemplates having a plurality of openings dimensionally sized to receivesaid dowel member opposing ends in force fit contact; b. winding yarnaround both of said dowel members in a helical manner forming aplurality of yarn loops in said longitudinal direction, each of saidloops having an upper and lower pair of transversely directed yarnstrands; c. passing a flexible wire around all of said yarn loopsbetween said dowel members, said flexible wire forming a closed contour;d. securing said flexible wire to an upper strand and a lower strand ofeach of said yarn loops; e. severing said yarn loops from each of saiddowel members to form one section of said woven toy.
 9. The method formaking a yarn woven toy as recited in claim 8 where the step of passingsaid resilient wire is followed by the step of tieing said wire aroundall of said yarn loops.
 10. The method of making a yarn woven toy asrecited in claim 9 where the step of tieing said wire is followed by thestep of weaving said wire to each of said yarn strands.
 11. The methodof making a yarn woven toy as recited in claim 10 where the step ofweaving said wire includes the step of helically passing a length ofyarn around said wire and each of said yarn strands forming said yarnloops.
 12. The method of making a yarn woven toy as recited in claim 11where the step of tieing includes the step of pulling said opposing endsof said length of yarn tightly thereby forcing said upper and lower yarnstrands together.
 13. The method for making a yarn woven toy as recitedin claim 8 where the step of severing said yarn loops includes the stepof cutting said loops along each of said dowels.
 14. The method formaking a yarn woven toy as recited in claim 13 where the step of cuttingis followed by the step of compressing said wire woven through saidupper yarn strands to said wire woven through said lower yarn strands toform one section of said woven toy.